Premier Inn has announced plans for its fourth Cambridge property, and the first in the centre of the city.
The 125-room hotel will be housed within former office space above the Lion Yard Shopping Centre.
Features will include the group’s growing Premier Plus room category, as well as ground floor F&B space.
Work to convert the building is due to start this month, with a slated opening date of mid-2024.
Premier Inn currently operates three Cambridge hotels – Premier Inn Cambridge East (Newmarket Road), Premier Inn Cambridge North (Girton) and Premier Inn Cambridge (A14, J32).
The city centre property will bring the group’s Cambridge portfolio to over 425 rooms.
Commenting on the news Paul Smith, Acquisitions Manager for Whitbread, said:
“We have an excellent track record of converting former office spaces into vibrant and successful Premier Inn and hub by Premier Inn hotels.
“We were able to take this experience to [asset manager] abrdn and work with them to develop plans to convert a redundant office above the popular Lions Yard shopping centre into a latest format Premier Inn hotel.
“This acquisition will allow our business and leisure customers to stay in a unique location in the very heart of historic Cambridge. Our partner abrdn also benefits from a secure, indexed-linked income stream from Whitbread and our expertise at converting existing spaces into thriving hotels.
“We are looking for other similar opportunities across the country as we grow our network towards our target of 125,000 Premier Inn and hub bedrooms.”
